No Virginia Tech quarterback controversy heading into Miami

Thomas on wanting to correct issues that have led to interceptions and fumbles

Thomas on wanting to correct issues that have led to interceptions and fumbles

Norm Wood, nwood@dailypress.com

BLACKSBURG — Despite committing eight turnovers in the last two games, and seeing his team lose to Duke and Boston College, Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas doesn't have any sleepless nights about losing his starting job.

He shouldn't. Tech coach Frank Beamer said Monday there's no quarterback controversy as his team prepares for Saturday's critical ACC Coastal Division game at No. 14 Miami (7-1, 3-1 conference).

From his perspective on Monday afternoon, Thomas didn't think there ever was a reason to believe there was controversy. He's never been concerned about Tech's coaching staff sitting him for even a series.

"You can go ahead and ask anybody in (Lane Stadium) right now, walk across the street to (the) Merryman (Athletic Facility on Tech's campus), you can ask anybody that's a part of this program if they think that there's any chance for me to be taken out for a series and it'll be a quick, 'no,'" said Thomas, who threw six interceptions and lost two fumbles in the Duke and BC games. "I feel the exact same way, so wherever that question came from, just go ahead and throw that out."

In interviews after Saturday's 34-27 loss at BC, Thomas dismissed a question from a reporter who asked whether Thomas thought Tech's coaches could sit him out for maybe a possession after committing so many turnovers.

Thomas' only response to the inquiry was a curt, "Next question."

Though many Tech fans have groused on message boards and Twitter about wanting Thomas replaced, Beamer hasn't lost faith in Thomas.

"Absolutely, he's the quarterback," Beamer said. "He gives us a chance to win. There's no question in our mind that he's the guy.

"Sometimes when you're out there competing at a high level, some days are better than others. He's had a rough outing, but as far as what he's all about and him being our quarterback, that's not in question."

Miami is coming off a 41-14 loss Saturday at Florida State. If Tech (6-3, 3-2) loses to Miami, it would put the Hokies on the brink of elimination in the race for a spot in the ACC championship game, since Miami, Georgia Tech (6-3, 5-2) and Duke (6-2, 2-2) all enter the weekend with two or fewer losses in the division.

Prior to the turnovers in the past two games, Thomas had gone three consecutive games without throwing an interception, including a streak of 116 straight passes without having a pass picked off. Tech won all three of those games against Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

Now his most recent binge of interceptions has given him 28 in the last two seasons combined — the second-most for a Tech quarterback over the course of two seasons in at least the last 61 years, behind only Don Strock's 46 interceptions in 1971 and '72.

This season, Thomas has completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 2,056 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Thomas' woes aren't entirely his fault, according to Tech wide receiver Josh Stanford, who had six catches for 171 yards against BC. Stanford said some of the responsibility for the interceptions falls on the shoulders of the receivers.

"Sometimes it's us not making the catch … sometimes it's us not making a play on the ball, or batting it down," Stanford said. "Sometimes it's just running the wrong routes. … We either messed up or we don't get open, which causes the quarterback to make other reads that he shouldn't have had we run an appropriate route."

As far as criticism from fans is concerned, Beamer gives Thomas advice that comes as no surprise — block it out and keep pressing forward. Miami, which is third in the ACC and tied for 10th in the nation with 14 interceptions, should provide enough for Thomas to focus on this week.

"I've said he's a smart guy," Beamer said. "I don't think smart guys listen to outside people. I think you listen to people that can change the direction, and that's his own teammates and coaches and us as a group. That's what's going to happen. We start doing what the critics say, and we'd be all over the place."